My Whisky Of The Year 2022 !!

[@Martinlgn]

Hey, I’m a wine and whisky retailer in France, and your take on Springbank is not entirely exact. Between the distillery and the retailer is the distributor/importer, even in the uk. For Springbank in particular, on France they are distributed by a company called Dugas. Several factors : Dugas only receives a small allocation per year (around 900-1200 10yo per year, for the country that drinks the most scotch in the world). That means in practice that on my last order, I was able to have 3x10yo and 3xLongrow NAS, and we have 3 shops. Secondly, that distributor adds its margin and determines a retailing price, effectively determining the margin of the retailer, and in the case of France, Dugas add a comfortable margin for them, not for the retailer, so some retailers, including myself, are a few euros above the retailing price, just to avoid losing money. So in the end, imho, the problems are : size of the allocation per country, and distributors being greedy, definitely not retailers

[@MaltActivist]

Fair point and I understand where you're coming from. The point I was making was people tend to blame the distillery for high prices (in some cases that may be true) but I feel in most cases the retailer/distributor is the one driving up the price. And while this may not happen on a widespread level in physical shops there is a tendency of online whisky retailers to hike up prices because a certain whisky is suddenly becoming popular. Of course each market is different and has it's own dynamics. I see your point and totally understand your perspective. Thank you for watching!

[@langtoun8235]

Great stuff as always, you were struggling to keep a straight face when you introduced the Macallan. Need to work on your delivery 😀😀

[@MaltActivist]

You can take all my money at poker !

[@justwhisky]

Ledaig could perpetually be WOTY every year. Great juice! Cheers

[@MaltActivist]

IKR ?? Love it.

[@Rohit_M]

Ladies and gentlemen, WOtY is...........Ledaig 10! Great choice MA and what a fantastic dram. I agree with your review, slight motor oil viscosity and there is enough smoke that doesn't overwhelm you in any way. I went through two bottles of Ledaig 10 in 2022 and have stashed one for the new year! I hope it stays reasonably priced and available in the future.

[@MaltActivist]

I really hope it stays reasonably priced. Burn Stewart are doing a great job under Brendan McCarron, who has worked with Bill Lumsden for the longest time as their Master of Wood. He is now steering the ship here and I can only expect excellent things to come from him. He's a great guy and has quite the portfolio.

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

Springbank is sort of unique in that they do everything in house including floor malting all there own barley and expansion is I think planned but it will take years to catch up. Other distillerys can just buy more malt and run the facility 24 hours a day but the spirit still needs years in the cask. I love the stuff too. Cheers

[@MaltActivist]

Yes, I appreciate that. However, like everyone else they could see the upward trajectory and I wish they had done something about that.

[@michaellambright7968]

Ralfy always does his whisky of the upcoming year. He’s contrarian like that.

[@MaltActivist]

True. That he is.

[@cliffnorman178]

Thanks for yet another excellent video. Unfortunately in South Africa Ledaig is extremely expensive, or almost unavailable. So weird as the distillery is owned by a South African company.

[@MaltActivist]

That is indeed quite strange!

[@rafaelnardiiii]

Wow I fell for the Macallan joke, almost closed KZbin tab LOL well done!!

[@MaltActivist]

haha glad you stayed back !

[@jimmypaul9424]

Great video. WTF Macallan you had me, 1st thought, you have been bought. Good choice and good info on the price.

[@MaltActivist]

Cheers

[@silverlochwhiskyreviews6157]

Great choice 🎉🥃👍 … happy holidays!

[@MaltActivist]

Cheers! Happy Holidays.

[@russell3733]

Great choice! Have been enjoying Ledaig 10 for the past 5 years and its consistent high quality is remarkable at the price point it sells for. Couldn't agree more. Cheers.

[@MaltActivist]

Thanks Russel. Appreciate it.

[@allanwhittle3041]

Brilliant channel ..great content , well presented ..with humour and zero shite 👍🤣 Thanks for the reviews ..Top man

[@MaltActivist]

Thank you Allan !! Appreciate the kind words!

[@mofoqa]

Rants are expected and part of the package

[@MaltActivist]

haha appreciate that

[@dirtydawg3734]

I love ir! Nice job this year, really enjoy your content!

[@MaltActivist]

Awesome! Thank you Dirty Dawg!

[@dram_mondays]

Hahahha. I was like “…really? Is this guy for real?…” Hahahha. Got me on the Macallan

[@MaltActivist]

haha bait and switch !!

[@callummackinnon1050]

Good choice my friend, I actually think I prefer the ledaig Rioja now to be honest, love the stuff and is so cheap

[@jezhellewell7690]

Insanely good for around £32!

[@MaltActivist]

That is also a great whisky!

[@doctorsofscotch]

Totally agree Macallan Night on Earth is the best whisky I’ve ever had. Great choice my friend!

[@MaltActivist]

So good!

[@davidowen2834]

Hi Ma, yes Ledaig 10 does get quite a bit of attention by youtubers and deservedly so. A good choice for your WOTY. I throughly enjoy it as well. Good video , keep on rambling 😀👍, slàinte 🥃

[@MaltActivist]

Will definitely keep on rambling! Slainte.

[@TimHoekstra]

Great choice!

[@MaltActivist]

Thanks Tim!

[@WineLightMedia]

I’ve had this as well, but My favourite Scotch this year has to go to Laphroaig 10 Sherry Cask. Wow, love it! Great videos. Cheers.

[@MaltActivist]

Thank you!

[@welshtoro3256]

It's great to have an affordable and unpretentious whisky bottled at a good strength on the books. I even like that stinky, off note, manure element in the peat. I've always liked that quality in a whisky. Croftengea has it in spades as well. I have to give a shout out to the 18 as well. Most good core range whiskies are not far behind their older expressions. I've always thought that about Bunnahabhain, Talisker and Springbank to pick three examples. I don't begrudge paying the extra for Ledaig 18 though. Furthermore, it remains great value just like the 10. Indeed, I would question if there's a better quality/value 18 year old Scotch out there. Personally, I find it far more engaging than Deanston. I like Glen Scotia 18 but the price has jumped over £100 which is a substantial mental price barrier. Talisker 18 has become a joke. However, let's get back to the 10. A cracking good dram with interesting personality. Is it better than Port Charlotte 10 (50%)? Is it better than Talisker 10? Bunnahabhain 12? We aren't even contemplating older stuff. I really think real whisky folk are looking for affordable quality right now. The ridiculous charade of expensive exclusives is leaving us behind. We can chase it and own exclusive stuff but real whisky drinkers buy it and drink it. We want good, non rip-off, stuff that we can enjoy and drink at our heart's content. This is one such. WT

[@MaltActivist]

I personally love the PC10 - cracking dram.

[@thewhiskyenthusiast]

Ah man you really did have me with Earth 😅 I honestly was looking at the screen dumbfounded and silent but screaming on the inside ' dude nooooo!!!' 🤣 Can't go wrong with Ledaig or Tobermory for that matter. Anything from that distillery is just fantastic. My three humble recommendations, if you haven't already tried, would be the Rioja, 9 year Bordeaux and Tobermory 16 PX. Cheers mate what a year! 🥃

[@MaltActivist]

Cheers mate!!! It's been a great year. And kudos to you on your channel. Loving the vids. Lets GO WhiskyTube!!

[@thewhiskyenthusiast]

@@MaltActivist Thank you 😃 Let's go Whisky Tube indeed 🥃🥃🥃

[@chentim1751]

Great pick!! Tasty with good price!!

[@MaltActivist]

How can you go wrong with that!

[@djskratchworx]

what you mentioned about Macallan tho.....i kinda experience that...but on a different expression...i had that as well. 😂

[@MaltActivist]

haha bait and switch!

[@darkoanton5]

Ledaig 10 is amazing.

[@darkoanton5]

It's 75 Canadian dollars. It's the only Ledaig or Tobermory we get here other than the gin. I bought four in the last year and a half. Just a note. Glenfarclas 12 is one whisky that has been dropping in price here. It's gone from 72 to 66. I don't know if that's happening in other markets.

[@MaltActivist]

It absolutely is!

[@MaltActivist]

@@darkoanton5 Not sure why that's happening. Could be some sort of clearance, perhaps?

[@sidberns1373]

Great choice love the 10, but my whiskey’s of the year is the Ledaig 18 which I only tried recently and the Benromach peated sherry cask. Both exceptional price to quality ratio especially here in Australia.

[@MaltActivist]

Good choice!

[@yiorgosst6898]

Good choice 👍 I am not a big fan of peated whisky but I did enjoy the bottle that I 've had. Very good quality, very good whisky! "The Ramble" (I like that 😁) I believe Springbank has not expand probably to control better their quality that they produce and personally I am happy for that (if that is the case). What I am not happy though is that they are very easy to find but in a very high prices, in the secondary market! EVERY auction has hundreds of Springbank bottles meanwhile we cannot find any in the retailers (at least in RRP price). And my question is, who sells so many Springbank bottles in each auction date in at least 2 auction houses?

[@MaltActivist]

The answer is flippers. Anyone who has an ear to the ground knows that Springbank are lagging with their supply. Hence, it's a) good strategy to pick up what's available and sell it on auction and b) get rid of what's on their shelves

[@yiorgosst6898]

@@MaltActivist Agreed, but so many bottles in each auction? Either some retailers they are buying cases and then put them on auctions or... maybe the distillery (?) Just a thought, since individuals cannot buy such quantities...

[@MaltActivist]

@@yiorgosst6898 I highly doubt the distillery would engage in such a terrible practice. Could be retailers who are taking in consignments and shipping them off to auction. But also do not underestimate the power of an individual to make some money. It's an investment of a few thousand pounds to make many more - so everything is possible. But I am 100% certain that the distillery is not doing this.

[@adamszymon660]

Great choice! Sláinte!

[@MaltActivist]

Thanks Adam!

[@McIntyresMalts]

When you pulled out the Macallan, I was like, what? You hate Macallan?! 😂

[@MaltActivist]

haha a little bait and switch !

[@whiskyenthousiast7272]

My whisky of the year is a new discovery for me. Michel couvreur blossoming auld sherry. Thnx for the great content. Keep up the good work.

[@MaltActivist]

Great whisky that! I think I've reviewed it as well!

[@silverfox108]

Your joke on Macallan is funny because impossible to get a hold of here in Canada. I like Macallan but becoming to expensive. The Legaig is a nice dram but expensive and had to obtain at times in Canada also currently going for approx 95 dollars per bottle. Scotch is becoming to expensive and have been looking at other products as of late

[@MaltActivist]

There's always Canadian whiskey!

[@ukaszkruszewski4849]

Will you come back to YT?

[@teddyballgame25]

Enjoy the rants from someone who understands the industry and loves whisky. Ledaig 10 is fantastic. Won a peated line I did that beat our Corryvreken…anyway, have you compared this to the 18?

[@MaltActivist]

Not officially compared it but I feel like the 18 might be tainted with sulfur (at least the batch I tried)

[@kellywellington7122]

It is still not available here. Add it to the trash heap of mythic whiskys along with Springbank, Kilkerran, Hazelburn and Longrow. Not available at any price.

[@MaltActivist]

Tough!

[@Valera_Scotland]

Yessssss

[@MaltActivist]

See? I told you!

[@gareth630]

Just so you all know the 18 yr is crap so are all the other fancy bottlings. Also all the Tobermoray stuff is crap okay. Get back to Islay and leave the land of Sea Eagles, Goldies, Hen Harriers and Sea Otters alone. ! The whisky is crap ok ;-) Good shout for a great distillery 🙂

[@MaltActivist]

I gotta admit. You had me in the first half!

[@gareth630]

@@MaltActivist Haha I threatened Ralfy to blow his bothy up if he kept bigging up the Tobermoray distillery ;-) A big fair play to Distell who seem to keep the prices across the board at a reasonable level, also at Bunna and Deanston and we get 46.3% NCF, nat colour 🙂

[@welshtoro3256]

I agree, it's crap. Save your money and leave it the fuck alone.

[@helioteran756]

Yes! Yes! Yes say it like it is! Trash! Once again, thank you for being honest you are really saving many people, money and time by just being honest about the product

[@MaltActivist]

hahaha I try !

[@helioteran756]

@@MaltActivist question…have you ever heard anyone just trash wines? I never see people trashing wine, only the description of the wine. It’s never like “THIS IS TRASH! Totally lacks body, finish is short and the nose is like a wet dog” people are much kinder to wines than they are to whiskey. Have you noticed this?

[@MaltActivist]

@@helioteran756 That's an interesting observation. And you might be right but I think there's a possible explanation for that. I think wine is a) easier to make when compared to whisky so the margin for error is very very wide (compared to whisky!). I mean with basic knowledge you can make some wine at home as well without much fuss (just some patience). You can't do that with whisky, obviously. With whisky I think there are also many more elements to reckon with (barley, distilling, cask, weather conditions, human interaction) so the chances of something going wrong are also greater. And finally b) where I think whisky, because of all these reasons, has greater nuance than wine (going to be hated by wine lovers!) but I say this with total respect to wines and wine makers. So I think there's more good wine than bad wine out there for this reason whereas whisky tends to suffer at the hands of so many volatile factors. This is just my opinion and should be taken with a HUGE pinch of salt.

[@Morag11951]

Skip all the Bull to 15:33 🤷‍♂️

[@MaltActivist]

Touché !

[@whiskyenthousiast7272]

You almost give me a hart attack with that macallan...

[@MaltActivist]

haha that was the plan!

[@sandeepmathur5018]

Wanted to unsubscribe when you said ‘a night on earth in Scotland’! 😊

[@rivenbeef]

Same! 🤣

[@MaltActivist]

haha I'm glad you stayed

[@takerocco553]

even though the Macallan wasshit it seemed pretty empty. someone must like it

[@MaltActivist]

It was part of my dram share club -- shared among 6 guys.

[@waferpie123]

Ledaig 10 is nothing special, I don't get what the fuss is about the whisky. Seems like it's becoming a trend of some sort.

[@jezhellewell7690]

No way! Try it again! It’s immense!

[@waferpie123]

@@jezhellewell7690 it’s a good integrity whisky, nothing else nothing more.

[@jezhellewell7690]

@@waferpie123 we’re going to have to disagree.

[@MaltActivist]

It's genuinely really good !

[@MrPsiman]

that is as laughable as Whsiky Advocate naming Jack Daniel's Bonded whisky of the year. We are now ready to hear what the real whisky of the year is. Funny joke

[@MaltActivist]

Cheers!

[@Boxer1250RT]

Everyone on the KZbin had to jump on the L 10 Wagon. Boring! You all need some more imagination. Scotland is a big country!

[@MaltActivist]

Scotland is huge! But I still like the Ledaig.

[@pococaros8254]

Talk sh too much